Quick Feet For Catchers

There are many drills that catchers can do to work on quick feet. Having quick feet as a catcher is essential because the quicker the feet the catcher has, the faster he will be able to make throws to the bases, block balls, and just be an all around better catcher.

The best catchers in the game have really quick feet. One of my favorite quick feet for catcher drills is not only a quick feet drill, but also a hell of a conditioner. The catcher starts in his squat position. He then hops with quick feet to his throwing side (the side he would turn if he were throwing to second). Then he hops with quick feet back to the middle with his chest squared up. Next he hops with quick feet to the other side, turning his hips and shoulders, and then back to the middle. Each one of these hops should be 90 degrees. That’s not it. The catcher then drops down acting as if he is blocking a ball in front of him and immediately hops back up into his squat position which sets him up for another rep of this killer quick feet drill.

Some of my other favorite quick feet for catcher drills are ones using the speed and agility ladder. Obviously the ladder is great for quick feet in general, and all baseball players should train to have quick feet by using the ladder, but there are some specific drills for catcher that can be done with it.

One of the best quick feet drill using the speed and agility ladder is the “squat pop”. The squat pop is performed by catchers using the ladder and a medicine ball (6lbs is probably as heavy as you should go on the med ball). The catcher starts facing forward in a catcher’s squat position with the med ball at his chest. The catcher then pops up, using as quick of feet as he can, to turn his hips and chest, and place both feet inside of touching squares in the ladder. The medicine ball should come up to the catcher’s back side ear. The catcher will then face forward again, getting into his squat position and repeat the quick feet drill to the other side.

The main focus should be on the catcher’s foot work and being as quick as possible without sacrificing balance. Also, pay attention to the height the catcher is getting when he is making the transition from squat to throwing position. There should be very little vertical movement. His feet should go as fast as they can from squatting to in the boxes barely being lifted off the ground.

Now although the two quick feet drills for catchers mentioned above are two really great drills, they don’t really work specifically on having quick feet through a “real catcher’s throwing motion”. I say that because a catcher is not going to hop from his squat position straight up turning his hips and shoulders. He is really going to be gaining ground toward the base he is throwing to by leading with his back foot.

This quick feet catcher’s drill works on quick feet through a real catcher’s throwing motion. Having a partner holding a resistance band that is connected to the catcher’s waist, the catcher is to gain ground as if he were throwing to second coming out of his squat. Not by hoping, but by using quick feet, leading with his back foot and getting through the resistance. This is just another great quick feet drill for catchers.

No matter which quick feet catching drills you do, they all have their benefits. Just remember that even though you are working on quick feet in some of the drills, you may not be training specifically to a catcher’s throwing motion. Still, the ultimate goal of working on quick feet is being accomplished.